Principal Technical Program Manager, Software AI

Familiar Machines & Magic; Woburn (MA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Familiar Machines & Magic seeks a Principal Technical Program Manager, Software AI to drive AI and software systems for Familiars. This senior, cross‑functional role connects AI, software, hardware, and product, turning ambitious research into predictable milestones.

You will own end‑to‑end delivery across AI and software teams, set program plans and milestones, and coordinate with hardware TPM and R&D to keep programs in lockstep while guiding leadership with clear status and trade‑offs.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading technical programs delivering AI/ML products.
• Track record coordinating multi‑team programs integrating software, AI and hardware.
• Strong understanding of AI/ML systems and how to ship them in a product.
• Experience guiding programs through research uncertainty and evolving scope.
• Familiarity with agile release planning and risk management.
• Experience with consumer robotics, embedded or real‑time systems is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end delivery of AI and software functionality from research to production across AI and Software teams.
• Develop and maintain realistic program plans, schedules, and milestones.
• Coordinate across disciplines and sub‑teams and align with hardware TPM on shared dependencies.
• Identify technical risks early and drive resolution.
• Set framework for program planning, sequencing, and delivery; present improvements to leadership.
• Partner with engineering leadership to align execution with product roadmap.
• Balance research uncertainty with delivery deadlines and smart trade-offs.

Skills

Technical program management

AI/ML product delivery

Cross-functional leadership

Systems thinking

Ambiguity tolerance

Tools

Embedded systems

Real-time systems

Robotics hardware/software integration

Job description

Familiar Machines & Magic (FM&M) is building the Physical AI platform for human connection, beginning with Familiars - physically embodied AI systems designed to form long-term, emotionally intelligent relationships with people. Our mission is to create artificial life to build a more caring world.

Founded by industry leaders from iRobot, Outrider, and Amazon, our team has collectively deployed over 50 million consumer robots worldwide and led advances in navigation, machine learning, and human-robot interaction.

Familiar Machines & Magic is building a mission-driven team of high performers, anchored in our unique Culture Principles and Ways of Working.

We're looking for a Principal Technical Program Manager, Software AI to drive the development of the AI and software systems that bring Familiars to life. This is a senior, highly cross‑functional role for someone who thrives where AI, software, hardware, and product meet, and who can turn ambitious, sometimes uncertain research into predictable, shippable milestones.

You will be the connective tissue across our AI and software teams, coordinating the work that gives a Familiar its intelligence: perception, machine learning, and behavior. You'll work closely with our Hardware Technical Program Manager (TPM) and Chief R&D Officer to keep the AI, software, and hardware programs in lockstep, while owning delivery for the AI and software functions.

As a Principal TPM, you'll operate with a high degree of autonomy: determining the objectives and approach for the team's most critical programs, driving strategic initiatives, and making the framework-level decisions that set direction for how the organization plans and ships. You'll help build something new to the world: emotionally intelligent Physical AI.

This role reports to our Head of Technical Program Management.

What You'll Do | Responsibilities and Scope

• Own end-to-end delivery of complex AI and software functionality, from research through production, across the AI and Software teams
• Build and maintain realistic program plans, schedules, and milestones, and keep them accurate as priorities and research outcomes shift
• Coordinate across disciplines and sub‑teams (e.g., perception, AI, behaviors) and collaborate tightly with the Hardware TPM on shared dependencies
• Identify and manage technical risks and cross‑team dependencies early, and move them to resolution
• Set the framework for how programs are planned, sequenced, and delivered, and bring improvements to senior leadership
• Partner with the engineering leadership and key stakeholders to align execution with the product roadmap
• Balance research uncertainty with delivery deadlines, helping teams make smart trade‑offs without losing momentum
• Communicate status, risks, and changes clearly to stakeholders and leadership

What You'll Bring | Experience, Expertise & Qualifications

• Extensive experience in technical program or project management, including deep experience delivering AI/ML products
• A track record leading multi‑team programs where software, AI, and hardware come together, recognized by your peers as a technical leader in AI/ML program delivery
• Strong, hands‑on understanding of AI/ML systems: how models are built, trained, evaluated, and shipped in a real product
• Experience managing programs through research uncertainty, where scope and outcomes aren't fixed up front
• Fluency with modern development and release practices (agile, release planning, risk and dependency management)
• Consumer robotics, embedded, or real‑time systems experience (preferred)

How You'll Succeed | Mindset, Judgment and Ways of Working

• Autonomy and ownership: you take initiative on critical, ambiguous programs and move strategic work forward
• Systems thinking: you hold the whole picture and see how AI, software, and hardware decisions ripple across each other
• Comfort with ambiguity and genuine excitement for building a new category
• Motivation to improve how the team works, paired with the judgment to bring the right recommendations to leadership
• The ability to distill complex technical detail into clear, concise guidance for engineers and leadership alike
• Empathy and steadiness under pressure
• Driven by the opportunity to explore the intersection of technology, design, and emotional connection

About Us

Familiar Machines & Magic (FM&M) is building the Physical AI platform for human connection, beginning with Familiars - physically embodied AI systems designed to form long-term, emotionally intelligent relationships with people. Our mission is to create artificial life to build a more caring world.

Founded by industry leaders from iRobot, Outrider, and Amazon, our team has collectively deployed over 50 million consumer robots worldwide and led advances in navigation, machine learning, and human-robot interaction.

Familiar Machines & Magic is building a mission-driven team of high performers, anchored in our unique Culture Principles and Ways of Working.

We're looking for a Principal Technical Program Manager, Software AI to drive the development of the AI and software systems that bring Familiars to life. This is a senior, highly cross‑functional role for someone who thrives where AI, software, hardware, and product meet, and who can turn ambitious, sometimes uncertain research into predictable, shippable milestones.

You will be the connective tissue across our AI and software teams, coordinating the work that gives a Familiar its intelligence: perception, machine learning, and behavior. You'll work closely with our Hardware Technical Program Manager (TPM) and Chief R&D Officer to keep the AI, software, and hardware programs in lockstep, while owning delivery for the AI and software functions.

As a Principal TPM, you'll operate with a high degree of autonomy: determining the objectives and approach for the team's most critical programs, driving strategic initiatives, and making the framework-level decisions that set direction for how the organization plans and ships. You'll help build something new to the world: emotionally intelligent Physical AI.

This role reports to our Head of Technical Program Management.

What You'll Do | Responsibilities and Scope

• Own end-to-end delivery of complex AI and software functionality, from research through production, across the AI and Software teams
• Build and maintain realistic program plans, schedules, and milestones, and keep them accurate as priorities and research outcomes shift
• Coordinate across disciplines and sub‑teams (e.g., perception, AI, behaviors) and collaborate tightly with the Hardware TPM on shared dependencies
• Identify and manage technical risks and cross‑team dependencies early, and move them to resolution
• Set the framework for how programs are planned, sequenced, and delivered, and bring improvements to senior leadership
• Partner with the engineering leadership and key stakeholders to align execution with the product roadmap
• Balance research uncertainty with delivery deadlines, helping teams make smart trade‑offs without losing momentum
• Communicate status, risks, and changes clearly to stakeholders and leadership

What You'll Bring | Experience, Expertise & Qualifications

• Extensive experience in technical program or project management, including deep experience delivering AI/ML products
• A track record leading multi‑team programs where software, AI, and hardware come together, recognized by your peers as a technical leader in AI/ML program delivery
• Strong, hands‑on understanding of AI/ML systems: how models are built, trained, evaluated, and shipped in a real product
• Experience managing programs through research uncertainty, where scope and outcomes aren't fixed up front
• Fluency with modern development and release practices (agile, release planning, risk and dependency management)
• Consumer robotics, embedded, or real‑time systems experience (preferred)

How You'll Succeed | Mindset, Judgment and Ways of Working

• Autonomy and ownership: you take initiative on critical, ambiguous programs and move strategic work forward
• Systems thinking: you hold the whole picture and see how AI, software, and hardware decisions ripple across each other
• Comfort with ambiguity and genuine excitement for building a new category
• Motivation to improve how the team works, paired with the judgment to bring the right recommendations to leadership
• The ability to distill complex technical detail into clear, concise guidance for engineers and leadership alike
• Empathy and steadiness under pressure
• Driven by the opportunity to explore the intersection of technology, design, and emotional connection

Please Note: We have often hired those that do not meet the exact requirements but that we found to be a great culture fit and have the relevant experience to be successful in the role.

Familiar Machines & Magic is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace where all individuals are valued and respected. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status.